'I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor', says Pope Francis

There are 46 comments on the
ekklesia.co.uk
story from Mar 16, 2013, titled 'I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor', says Pope Francis.
In it, ekklesia.co.uk reports that:

The new spiritual head of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics has told them and the world's media, "I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor." The comment, in front of an audience of 6,000 correspondents in Rome, came as part of an explanation from the pontiff as to why he had chosen the name Francis.

Time will tell what kind of guy this one is I suppose.Why does the Pope have to choose a new name?

A papal name is the regnal name taken by the pope, the head of the Catholic Church. While popes in the first centuries retained their birth names after their accession to the papacy, later on popes began to adopt a new name upon their accession. This first started in the since the sixth century and became customary in the 10th century. Since 1555, every pope has taken a papal name.

During the first centuries of the church, the bishops of Rome continued to use their baptismal names after their elections. The custom of choosing a new name began in AD 533; Mercurius decided it inappropriate for a pope to be named after a pagan deity - in this case the Roman god Mercury - and adopted the name John II in honour of his predecessor John I, who was venerated as a martyr. In the 10th century clerics from beyond the Alps - especially from Germany and France - acceded to the papacy; these popes began to replace their foreign sounding names with more traditional ones.

Often the new pontiff's choice of name upon being elected to the papacy is seen as a signal to the world of who the new pope will emulate, what policies he will seek to enact, or even the length of his reign. Such is the case with Benedict XVI  it was speculated that he chose the name because he wished to emulate Benedict XV, and to also call attention to the fact that at 7.5 years, Benedict XV's reign was a relatively short one. Benedict XVI's own reign, which ended with his resignation on 28 February 2013, also lasted less than 8 years.~http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Papal_name

<quoted text>A papal name is the regnal name taken by the pope, the head of the Catholic Church. While popes in the first centuries retained their birth names after their accession to the papacy, later on popes began to adopt a new name upon their accession. This first started in the since the sixth century and became customary in the 10th century. Since 1555, every pope has taken a papal name.During the first centuries of the church, the bishops of Rome continued to use their baptismal names after their elections. The custom of choosing a new name began in AD 533; Mercurius decided it inappropriate for a pope to be named after a pagan deity - in this case the Roman god Mercury - and adopted the name John II in honour of his predecessor John I, who was venerated as a martyr. In the 10th century clerics from beyond the Alps - especially from Germany and France - acceded to the papacy; these popes began to replace their foreign sounding names with more traditional ones.Often the new pontiff's choice of name upon being elected to the papacy is seen as a signal to the world of who the new pope will emulate, what policies he will seek to enact, or even the length of his reign. Such is the case with Benedict XVI  it was speculated that he chose the name because he wished to emulate Benedict XV, and to also call attention to the fact that at 7.5 years, Benedict XV's reign was a relatively short one. Benedict XVI's own reign, which ended with his resignation on 28 February 2013, also lasted less than 8 years.~http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Papal_name>^o^<

Thanks for the info.Seems pretty pointless to me as a new name isn't going to change the person as far as I can see but there you go.

<quoted text>Thanks for the info.Seems pretty pointless to me as a new name isn't going to change the person as far as I can see but there you go.

I agree, but that's why I could NEVER be Catholic. Everything with the RCC is ritualistic, so it follows their other practices. Seems if the German RCC is going to throw out members that don't tithe {tax} to their demands, then "Francis" will have his work cut out for him since the RCC is one of the richest "businesses" in the world. He may be quite sincere but even the Pope has to work with the rest of the hierarchy and world churches. One can only make so many waves lest they capsize and drown.

<quoted text>Thanks for the info.Seems pretty pointless to me as a new name isn't going to change the person as far as I can see but there you go.

ofcourse it's pointless to you ...you're not Catholic. The name he has chosen has special meaning to the new role he has taken. Catholics choose a saint's name when they are confirmed also. That saint represents a Christian role model. I chose St Helen. I believe the Pope did well to choose Francis, an instrument of peace. Don't know how someone could find fault in that.

<quoted text>ofcourse it's pointless to you ...you're not Catholic. The name he has chosen has special meaning to the new role he has taken. Catholics choose a saint's name when they are confirmed also. That saint represents a Christian role model. I chose St Helen. I believe the Pope did well to choose Francis, an instrument of peace. Don't know how someone could find fault in that.

No I'm not a Catholic, but I do still like to try and figure the reasons things are done.If he wants to be called Francis and others like to choose a "Saint" as a role model then fair enough although my views on who Saints are is obviously going to be vastly different to the Catholic viewpoint.

<quoted text>No I'm not a Catholic, but I do still like to try and figure the reasons things are done.If he wants to be called Francis and others like to choose a "Saint" as a role model then fair enough although my views on who Saints are is obviously going to be vastly different to the Catholic viewpoint.

Amen! We're all saints that belong to Christ. Theirs are no more important than we are. Man cannot designate another man to a particular level of God's kingdom. The Church continues to attempt to take away God's power in things that are His and His alone to control and judge.

Rom. 15:

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. KJV

25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there. NIV

25 Right now I'm going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there. God's Word

25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. NLT

Clearly, all those that believe on Christ are Saints, Saint Angelina.

Gal. 3:

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

<quoted text>No I'm not a Catholic, but I do still like to try and figure the reasons things are done.If he wants to be called Francis and others like to choose a "Saint" as a role model then fair enough although my views on who Saints are is obviously going to be vastly different to the Catholic viewpoint.

Then perhaps it would be wise to focus on your own faith. Canonized Saints are those recognized by the Catholic Church through a process of investigation which includes miracles granted by God through them after their deaths. All Christians are called to be saints in whatever manner God chooses.

<quoted text>Then perhaps it would be wise to focus on your own faith. Canonized Saints are those recognized by the Catholic Church through a process of investigation which includes miracles granted by God through them after their deaths. All Christians are called to be saints in whatever manner God chooses.

I focus on my faith in day to day life but this is a discussion forum to discuss various forms of the Christian faith. No need to be snippy.

<quoted text>How utterly dishonest of you. You jump at every chance to critique the Catholic faith, yet are secretive about your own church's practices.

Excuse me??? I rarely criticize the RC church and have never been secretive about my own church's practices.Unfair accusations on your part I think as I have always tried to be polite and friendly to you.

<quoted text>Excuse me??? I rarely criticize the RC church and have never been secretive about my own church's practices.Unfair accusations on your part I think as I have always tried to be polite and friendly to you.

Then you are painfully unaware of how arrogant your posts about the Catholic faith are. You jump on the anti Catholic bandwagon every time it rears its ugly head. What is silly and meaningless to you is precious to Catholics. Cooly cordial is how I would describe your interactions with me, after all I am a Catholic and you are???

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